Plant: Biennial to short-lived perennial herb; caudex generally branched in age, often ± woody, taprooted; stem generally 4-12 dm; hairs generally spreading, ± coarse Leaves: caudex generally < cauline, ephemeral; lower cauline generally 5-24 cm, 5-35 mm wide, oblanceolate to narrow-elliptic, generally with petioles ± = blades, ± winged; other leaves generally sessile, becoming bract-like toward inflorescence INFLORESCENCE: cymes, generally arrayed in panicles, coiled at tips, elongate, narrow Flowers: radial; corolla blue, otate-salverform, with appendage near base of each lobe, limb generally 4-8 mm wide, sometimes smaller Fruit: Fruit: nutlets 2-4 mm, erect, > style, marginal prickles sometimes fused basally, ± forming a wing, facial prickles generally 0-3, < marginal Misc: Meadows, streambanks, other vernally wet areas, less often open slopes, forests; 700-3100 m.; Jun-Aug